Decision Making Assertiveness Mission Analysis Communication Leadership
Same
Sheet of Music
Adaptability/Flexibility Situational Awareness
CRM Contacts: Naval Aviation Schools Command Crew Resource Management 181 Chambers Ave., Suite C Pensacola FL 32508-5221 (850) 452-2088/5567 (DSN 922) Fax (850)452-2639 https://www.netc.navy.mil/nascweb/crm/ crm.htm LCdr. Jeff Alton, Naval Safety Center (757) 444-3520, Ext.7231 (DSN 564) jeffrey.alton@navy.mil
20
By Lt. Lucas Argobright
ur Hawkeye recovery aboard the carrier was a little more exciting than I had anticipated. Flying in Liberty 600, we had returned early to the overhead stack because we were done with our mission. While inbound, we saw the weather below 5,000 feet was not very good. We couldn’t see the water or the boat. In the past, when the weather technically was not Case I, tower would push to make it Case I, because usually it’s a more expeditious recovery than a Case II or III. We checked in with marshal at 35 miles and stayed at 6,000 feet to remain above the weather. Approaching the carrier, we kept getting calls from marshal to report a “see me.” We reported to marshal we did not have the carrier in sight, but we did have two Super Hornets off the nose. The FA-18Es also reported to marshal they couldn’t see the carrier. We descended to 5,000 feet, the same altitude as our Rhino brethren. In our air wing, the E-2C normally marshals at 4,000 feet with the Hornet squadron, so we generally talk to each other on a single tactical frequency to build our collective situational awareness in the stack. No other aircraft had checked in with marshal, so marshal decided to descend us to determine the weather overhead the carrier. We asked if we were clear to descend from present position. Marshal reported us clear, so we started a gradual descent. We entered the weather just below 5,000 feet and finally broke out at 2,700 feet. Most carrier pilots quickly would realize a solid layer from 2,700 to 5,000 feet might not be the best weather for Case I, especially when aircraft marshal in the overhead stack at 3,000 and 4,000 feet. We reported a “see me” at 2,500 feet and 3 miles from the carrier. The visibility was about 3 miles in haze all around the boat. After talking with marshal, they kicked us to tower on button 1. Approach
